Just bought a Lee kit, where should I get components?

[510]

Hi Everyone,

It looks like I've been hit by the reloading bug. I have been doing a lot of research and decided to buy a Lee Challenger kit just so that I can make sure reloading is for me before I buy a progressive. I just ordered the kit, 4 piece 9mm carbide dies (loading for G19), calipers and manual today. I also want to start with new brass so that I can skip the prep stage at first. I'm definitely going to read the manual thoroughly before touching any powder, but I'm trying to decide if I should order some components from Cabelas now (seems like one of the easiest to order hazmat from) or if I should wait for the Cow Palace show on Sept 17th? What is the powder and primer selection usually like there? I went to the last one but didn't have an eye for components yet. If I did order online, I was thinking WSF or Titegroup, CCI Small Pistol, Winchester brass and 115 gr. FMJ-RN would give me something to start with. I've learned a lot on this forum already, any input is greatly appreciated, thanks!

[hk91666]

Bullets and cases midwayusa.com
powder and primers gun show or local shop hazmat costs are too high.

[bumpo628]

You can check www.powdervalleyinc.com for powder & primers.
They also have brass and bullets.

You do not need to worry about case preparation on pistol brass. There is nothing different to do between new and used brass besides tumbling. If you're going to buy once-fired brass, it will already be clean anyway. Powder Valley has 1000 pcs of mixed once-fired 9mm brass for $40. Your press and gun won't know the difference.

I think a powder like Winchester 231 (same as HP38) is a better beginner's powder than Titegroup. There is less chance of a double charge because the flake size is larger. Titegroup is very fine grain and it is hard to see if you put too much. I don't know anything about WSF, so maybe someone else will weigh in.

Check out Precision Delta for bullets. They've got 1000 pcs of 115 grn FMJ for $76 including shipping.

http://precisiondelta.com/detail.php?sku=B-9-115-FMJ

[Full Clip]

Grafs is my usual supplier.

[stand125]

Just call around to get the best local prices if you do not plan on loading a ton. I am in Nor-cal and 1000 primers for $30.00. I pay $70.00 after tax for 4lbs of W231 and Titegroup and 500 Xtreme plated 9mm bullets cost me just under $40.00. I really like 4.7gr of W231 under a 115gr Xtreme plated bullet. You should never have to buy brass if you shoot at a range. Most people shoot 9mm, so you can ask other shooters if you can keep their brass ( make sure to ask ).

Get yourself more of the quick change bushings or mark your dies with nail polish or a sharpie so you can screw them in quickly and not have to adjust them after your initial settings. I did not get a tumbler for my first six months. I just soaked the cases in a little detergent, rinsed really well, dried over night and then wiped them off really quick before sizing. The Lee sizing lube works very well and it takes a very tiny amount, so don't get overzealous with the lube. I lube every 5th case.

[Dark Mod]

Midway is pretty cool, for bullets i heard eliteprecision.com had 1000 FMJ 9mm bullets for like $80 a while back. Id try there. You can cut cost locally by buying plated bullets instead of FMJ. Just buy the powder and primers locally, since they dont cost THAT much more and you save on shipping and hazmat. For all the complaining about Fowlers i do, their powder/primer prices arent terrible

[sonnyt650]

Towards the beginning of the year at one of the Cow Palace gun shows I bought 50/ct bags of Winchester-brand .308 cases for a pretty good price, don't remember off-hand but I saved even without the shipping/handling tacked on. I haven't tried buying rifle bullets from the gun show, just more picky about those myself.

For handgun initially I only reloaded anything I shot myself (no new brass, prep for handgun is nothing at all), but after a couple of trips to the range recovering too little brass that expanded to reloading anything I could get my hands on. Copper-plated bullets were purchased from tjconevera.com, lead bullets from one of the stores around Reno when I've gone there.

Powder/primers: prices at that gunshow weren't spectacular, just average. I had lots of powder already anyway so didn't buy any; but I picked up some SRP, LRP and LPP -- CCI and Winchester I think whichever they had in stock for that size.

BTW: I rode in on a motorcycle so the gunshow just cost me the price of admission and no parking, so I definitely saved over shipping and handling. I ended up having mixed feelings about it though riding back home with lots of primers right behind me, hoped the suspension wasn't too tight!

[Bill Steele]

Bumpo628's post above is the advice I would give.

[MaHoTex]

+1 on Delta Precision for projectiles and Powder Valley for primers/powder.

If you just want to work up some loads to try powders out, just buy a 1lb jug of powder from your LGS.

[XDRoX]

grafs
powder valley
wideners

[510]

You can check www.powdervalleyinc.com for powder & primers.
They also have brass and bullets.

You do not need to worry about case preparation on pistol brass. There is nothing different to do between new and used brass besides tumbling. If you're going to buy once-fired brass, it will already be clean anyway. Powder Valley has 1000 pcs of mixed once-fired 9mm brass for $40. Your press and gun won't know the difference.

I think a powder like Winchester 231 (same as HP38) is a better beginner's powder than Titegroup. There is less chance of a double charge because the flake size is larger. Titegroup is very fine grain and it is hard to see if you put too much. I don't know anything about WSF, so maybe someone else will weigh in.

Check out Precision Delta for bullets. They've got 1000 pcs of 115 grn FMJ for $76 including shipping.
http://precisiondelta.com/detail.php?sku=B-9-115-FMJ

Thanks for the advice Bumpo, that Precision Delta deal looks good. I guess I was too lazy to fax Powder Valley my DL, I'm sending it in now. I appreciate the beginner powder advice.

[510]

Just call around to get the best local prices if you do not plan on loading a ton. I am in Nor-cal and 1000 primers for $30.00. I pay $70.00 after tax for 4lbs of W231 and Titegroup and 500 Xtreme plated 9mm bullets cost me just under $40.00. I really like 4.7gr of W231 under a 115gr Xtreme plated bullet. You should never have to buy brass if you shoot at a range. Most people shoot 9mm, so you can ask other shooters if you can keep their brass ( make sure to ask ).

Get yourself more of the quick change bushings or mark your dies with nail polish or a sharpie so you can screw them in quickly and not have to adjust them after your initial settings. I did not get a tumbler for my first six months. I just soaked the cases in a little detergent, rinsed really well, dried over night and then wiped them off really quick before sizing. The Lee sizing lube works very well and it takes a very tiny amount, so don't get overzealous with the lube. I lube every 5th case.

Do you mind if I ask what store in NorCal you got those at? I'm in Oakland but travel north sometimes. Thanks for the cleaning advice, I'm putting off my tumbler selection until I figure out what is the quietest option (live in a condo), thinking maybe Thumblers Tumbler. Thanks for everyone's advice.

[IrishPirate]

midwayusa.com for everything including parts/accessories, but not for hazmat stuff like primers and powders. Get that stuff at local stores, online hazmat and shipping charges kill the savings!!!

also, if you can, go with the carbide dies...you'll save a ton in the long run because they don't need lube. not all caliber dies have carbide options though, FYI.

[NotEnufGarage]

Hi Everyone,

It looks like I've been hit by the reloading bug. I have been doing a lot of research and decided to buy a Lee Challenger kit just so that I can make sure reloading is for me before I buy a progressive. I just ordered the kit, 4 piece 9mm carbide dies (loading for G19), calipers and manual today. I also want to start with new brass so that I can skip the prep stage at first. I'm definitely going to read the manual thoroughly before touching any powder, but I'm trying to decide if I should order some components from Cabelas now (seems like one of the easiest to order hazmat from) or if I should wait for the Cow Palace show on Sept 17th? What is the powder and primer selection usually like there? I went to the last one but didn't have an eye for components yet. If I did order online, I was thinking WSF or Titegroup, CCI Small Pistol, Winchester brass and 115 gr. FMJ-RN would give me something to start with. I've learned a lot on this forum already, any input is greatly appreciated, thanks!

If I knew where you live, I could probably suggest some places locally.


In Sacramento, we have Sportsmans Warehouse in Rocklin, Discount Shooters Supply in Roseville, and Wild Sports in Folsom, for starters.

[CK_32]

Good Idea.. these started kits are great ideas and some what cheaper than buying piece by piece.. I bought a RCBS kit and only bought 3 extra things and I was set to go. Added it all up and for the same kit I would have paid $500 more than I did for the same tools.

Happy reloading. Its addicting.